EATS Tour 2008 - Restaurant List

We got such a good response to our reviews for 2007 we decided to revive the EATS Tour for 2008. After extensive surveys among the EATS Tour Members we have narrowed our list for 2008 to the following schedule:

1. Depalma's Downtown
   
2. Last Resort
   
3. East West
   
4. La Dolce Vita
   
5. Merco Pasta
   
6. Icehouse in Madison
   
7. Mama’s Boy
   
8. The National
   
9. Casa Mia
   
10. Shokitini
    

The EATS Tour 2008 inaugural dinner will start Tuesday, April 1, 2008 at Depalma's Downtown

Le Maison Bleu - Watkinsville, GA - July 17, 2007

Dining from 5:30p - 6:45p
Health Rating: 100/97
Average Cost per person: $33.00 (including appetizers and alcoholic drinks)

Overall EATS Tour Rating

Food: B+
Atmosphere: A
Service: B

Meals ordered

Taylor Little
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Dish: Australian Beef Tenderloin
Food: C+
Atmosphere: A
Service: B
Review: I had eaten at Maison Bleu in the old location (now Girasoles) once before with an ex-girlfriend for a romantic dinner which seems to be a big part of their business. Unfortunately I made what was apparently an extreme faux pas right off the bat— the waiter came to open our wine (this was when it was BYOB) and it was a screw off cap. He made a snide remark and put away his corkscew and unscrewed the cap before turning on his heels and dashing away - never to be seen again. I didn't go to the trouble to tell him that screw on caps provide the best seal for bottled wines and are increasingly considered the best closure for wine due to cork taint. It's nice to know you can get some of that world-renowned French superiority complex in little old Watkinsville. I mention this because it sums up to a degree this experience at MB. The snooty attitude & atmosphere just isn't backed up by the quality of the food, especially for such a king's ransom.

I did not order an appetizer because I didn't want to bump up my tab by another ten bucks. I initially ordered the filet mignon but it wasn't available so I ordered the Australian filet mignon instead. Call me crazy but when I pay $26 for a piece of steak in a sleepy Georgia burg I expect it to be cooked as requested and larger than a truffle. Au contraire! Granted, mignon means small but this was pushing it. Also, since MB presents itself as a French restaurant I would expect them to know that in France filet mignon generally refers to a cut of pork not beef but maybe putting the word Australian in front of it changes that. Speaking of Australia I don't eat at Outback much but I'm reconsidering that decision after eating this vache morte.

The atmosphere is nice, good attention to detail if maybe a little overdone in terms of chandeliers, heavy drapes, etc. I did like the painted cloud ceiling on the second floor but it all seemed a little too Rococo for this small town boy. They could take down some of the decorations and fix it as it seems Baroque. Get it... fix it, Baroque. Somebody get me Voltaire on the phone - he knows the score.

Service was subpar, the waitress was robotic in both presentation and attitude. She lacked... je ne sais quoi. Perhaps her haughty indifference was all part of the French "experience" so you would feel as you were on Avenue des Champs-Elysées as opposed to a generic strip center in downtown Watkinsville. For me, Maison Bleu is hors concours for my future dining choices.

Virna Mendoza
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Dish: Caesar Salad and Crepe du Jour
Food: A-
Atmosphere: A
Service: B-
Review: I started my meal off with a Caesar salad which might now be my new favorite! I am a big fan of the Caesar and rarely pass it up when it is on the menu. The dressing seemed to be freshly made and the salad was even topped off with an anchovy. The dressing had just enough saltiness, just the way I like it and was served with homemade garlic croutons. It was also a healthy portion.

For my meal I chose the Crepe du Jour, one of their appetizers but the description said that it was a portion enough for sharing so I felt that would be a good size for my entree. The crepe was filled with lump crab meat, duck prosciutto and a Swiss-like cheese, unfortunately I cannot recall the actual name of the cheese. It was delightful. The combination of the sweetness of the crab and the saltiness of the duck and cheese went really well together.

What I really enjoyed about the restaurant was the atmosphere...it was well decorated to fit their theme. The decor made the place feel warm despite the two story ceiling in part of the restaurant. When you do look up to the 2nd floor there was a grand chandelier hanging with a blue sky painted on the ceiling and onto the "window walls." It all made you want to come back. This was my first time for dinner. I have been there before for lunch and Sunday brunch.

Trent Allen
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Dish: Marinated Quail and Double Cut Lamb Chop
Food: A
Atmosphere: A
Service: B+
Review: I was late and on the phone when I arrived as usual, but I had been to this place before. I breezed in and didn't really let the atmosphere or anything else hit me, but after last week's visit to the restaurant just down the street (Girasoles - ironically located where Maison Bleu was formerly located), I really appreciated what they have going on at this place. They're trying to have a nice restaurant in downtown Watkinsville - home of no liquor by the drink - and IT'S WORKING. This is a nice place by any Athens standard.

The atmosphere is very nice with the only downside being it is SO new - giving it that nice, modern, but almost Disneyland perfect feel. But hey, just because it's all new, let's not hold that against them. The newness makes for a very clean restaurant, but no worn in feel. But they have created a warm atmosphere, French of course, very high ceilings, upstairs balcony seating, chandeliers, big red drapes, hints of gaudy French decor and posters (though popular at T.J. Maxx too) with the only mystery the bucolic, pastoral feel of the interior exterior blue wall with window baskets up the stairs (you'll see what I mean). There was a very good sized and well dressed crowd for a Tuesday night indicative of the spreading reputation of this restaurant.

Details are well done, heavy silverware, napkins, waiters and waitresses appearance. If there was just a little more action and the sense that this restaurant hummed like a well oiled machine, it would really seem like it was on the next level. It has a little too relaxed feel to it, but one that certainly fits sleepy downtown Watkinsville. After all, you come here because it's NOT downtown, right?

Rhonda and I ordered quickly and I didn't spend much time looking over the menu, but it seemed varied with lots of - but not too many - choices. I wanted to go as different as possible with my selection so I ordered one of the specials - the marinated quail and double cut lamb chop over black-eyed pea rice pilaf and something (see Virna for official name). I asked about some sort of salad and apparently they didn't have anything of the side salad sort. I wanted something green and raw, but I almost respect them for keeping their salads sanctified and uncompromised when South Georgia comes in and asks for a side salad like I'm at Western Sizzlin' (you got Thousand Island?) I should have spent $8 and had a GOOD salad with my entree.

The food came out perfectly, the flat, irregular boneless quail discs on a skewer crossed by the chop typically presented as a chunk of lamb at the end of a long narrow rib bone. The meats were over the black-eyed pea pilaf which gave it a nice southern touch, and accompanied by the vegetable du jour green beans (French style, not southern for sure). I have to be complimentary because the dish was well prepared, the quail tender and flavorful, and the chop perfectly succulent and slightly rare. The meats went well together with the slight gamey taste of the quail complimenting the different almost gamey hallmark aftertaste (compared to beef and pork) of the lamb. This particular entree - and I suspect the entire menu - was not spicy and had a subtle, somewhat understated flavor, but that is how I think of French cuisine so it seemed quite perfect.

My two beers were nice and cold too. I'm quite American in the sense that I like my European beers served very cold.

We (Rhonda and I) ordered Creme Brulee for dessert and it wasn't spectacular - served cold and the crust was a little thin and underwhelming. Edible and good but not top notch. I had a bite of Matt's Lava Cake and it was a little two warm and dry and spongy. The dessert menu was rather extensive though, and something very good is surely to be had among the offerings.

The waitress was young, but nice, and knowledgeable, although slightly preoccupied with some sort of paper work at the bar. We had to ask twice for the dessert menu. With good conversation, any shortcoming of this waitress would be unnoticed.

Overall, I'm pulling for this place. They succeed in offering a nice restaurant worthy of romantic or special occasion dining and justifying the higher end (in Athens terms) price. It's a welcome alternative to downtown's stinky, summer garbage, vomit and beer sidewalks and rowdy crowds even though it's a little Disneyland for me. The entree I picked turned out terrific, but it's probably the kind of place that if you pick the right entree you'll be fantastically pleased, but if you don't then you think it's an overpriced pretender of a restaurant. Worth finding what you like here. A very good and somewhat refined alternative for downtown Athens. Go on a weekend night and see how delightful it feels to not be downtown. Almost makes you feel like a grownup.

Matt Keedy
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Dish: Grilled Honey Balsamic Chicken
Food: B
Atmosphere: A
Service: B+
Review: I feel as thought I should start by saying that I was hoping in the back of my head that I would have a bad experience. Not really because I have anything against the restaurant, but merely because I am an amateur food critic and how many opportunities would I get to title my review "Le Maison BLEW". Yet, In spite of my own funny quirks, I had a great experience at LMB.

LMB is a very tastefully decorated and well appointed restaurant. It is very open and has a very good design based on the space they have to work with. It is, though, very expensive. I think it is the ambiance of wealth that led us to be the first and only customers for more than an hour (we arrived at 5:30 and the restaurant started filling around 6:30). Being the only patrons, you would assume that we would have the best service available and the best table as well. Instead, we were seated at the end of the bar area, near the kitchen entrance, and next to the stairs to the upper dining area. I was impressed initially with the service we were getting once seated. Our beer came immediately, they checked back often to answer any menu questions, and were accommodating when Trent and Rhonda arrived.

If there is a list of important customer service needs, I think the replacement of a utensil that has fallen onto the floor with a clean one would be very high on that list. I was shocked to see a server at the end of the bar stare at the floor and then at me blankly when I knocked one of my two forks off the table. He went as far to bend over slightly and look at the ground to see the fork, but never moved an inch from his post. I smiled and set the fork aside and used my remaining one. If this were Applebee's or Chili's or any other mass-service restaurant, I would have brushed it off as being the norm for the level of restaurant I was patroning. At LMB and for $30+ a person, I expected to be brought a new fork without even asking....especially seeing as a server witnessed the entire event.

The food at LMB was really good overall. I found the garlic potatoes very tasty and creamy, but appropriately firm in consistence. The chicken was very tender, but bland without tough seasoned skin. If you do not like chicken skin, do not order this unless you like bland chicken. The beans were also good, slightly rubbery, but good none the less. For dessert I had Molten Chocolate Cake (at least I think that was the name. They do not post their desert menu online). I have had this form of desert many times in the past and this did not fully disappoint. The cake was warm enough to burn my tongue, so please let it cool a bit before eating. I've asked a restaurant in Atlanta once how it was made and they described it as a cupcake style with a hollow center that is filled with hot melted chocolate via cooking syringe. The LMB cake was clearly a piece of hard chocolate that is placed in the hollow top of the cake and then the entire cake is heated. Just something different I suppose. But it did make the entire cake molten hot instead of just the center.

Girasoles - Watkinsville, GA - July 10, 2007

Dining from 5:30p - 6:45p
Health Rating: 100/97
Average Cost per person: $31.00 (including appetizers and alcoholic drinks)

Overall EATS Tour Rating

Food: B
Atmosphere: B-
Service: A

Meals ordered

Taylor Little
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Dish: Crab Cakes
Food: B
Atmosphere: B-
Service: A+
Review:I had heard a lot about this place but had never eaten there. It's a little confusing to pin down what they focus is and I think that hurts the overall experience. If I remember correctly it's a fusion of hispanic and european cuisine but I don't think it excelled at either.

I had the Calamari as an appetizer and it wasn't bad but after eating a few it became apparent there was a lot of grease in the batter and I lost my taste them pretty quickly. I had a the crab cakes as an entreé as I often do at our reviewed restaurants. It was served as a single large cake with an orange sauce. I couldn't determine the sauce's ingredients but it finally dawned on me. It was the same somewhat tangy orange sauce you find on many generic Mexican dishes - I guess that is the fusion part but crabs and the sauce didn't fuse too well as the taste overpowered the crab. Not bad overall but just not that good.

The atmosphere suffers from an older location (formerly Maison Bleu) and a lot of generic posters of depression-era construction projects and Paris - not sure of the tie in with a restaurant predominantly Spanish flavor.

Service was good, nothing exemplary but the waitress was nice.

Stephanie Sharp
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Dish: Shrimp & Grits
Food: A-
Atmosphere: B
Service: A
Review: My rule is you can't go wrong with Shrimp & Grits...and Girasoles didn't break it. I would rank their Shrimp & Grits up with the best of them. The grits were very creamy and cheesy and the shrimp was cooked to perfection. Everyone sampled my meal and all were in agreement that it was excellent.

The atmosphere however, did not rate so high. The restaurant is in the old Gautreau's building. It's been so many years since I last ate in that building but I remember it feeling like you had wondered into a hidden gem of a place that not many are able to find. Now the building seems to sanitized and neutral. I think the new restauranteurs were afraid to take risks...but the place needs some identity. In addition the restaurant is labeled an Italian/Mexican but besides a few pasta dishes and a couple of burritos hidden on the back cover of the meny I didn't discover any Italian or Mexican Dishes. I have never heard of an Italian or Mexican restaurant where a table of guests can collectively have Stuffed Filet, Crab Cakes, Shrimp and Grits, and Stuffed King Salmon. If you were to look at this ticket you would think you have stumbled into some sort of Seafood restaurant. Anyways, despite the name or the description of the restaurant, the food was excellent, the atmosphere was "ok" and the service was spectacular.

Virna Mendoza
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Dish: Stuffed Filet Special
Food: B
Atmosphere: B
Service: A
Review: Girasoles is located in Watkinsville in the same spot previously occupied by Le Maison Bleu and Gautreau's years before that just down from the Town Center. For our appetizers the guys ordered Calamari and Bruchetta. The calamari was excellent, very crispy and was accompanied with a mild marinara sauce. The Bruchetta was unusual...it was more of a salad...romaine lettuce, tomatoes and mozzarella cheese with a balsamic vinaigrette. I really enjoyed it but did expect it to come with bread at first.

There were a few specials offered this evening and I choose the fillet. The fillet was butterflied and stuffed with blue cheese and mushrooms and topped with a mushroom sauce. It also came with roasted potatoes, sautéed green beans and carrots. I had ordered my steak medium but found mine to be a bit overcooked to medium well. I would rather that my meat be a bit pink in the middle. Another thing I was not pleased with was that everything was over salted, the meat and the vegetables. If they had scaled back on the salt I would have been very pleased with the flavor. In the future I would definitely recommend that you ask for less or rather no salt on the dish. I did like the presentation of the food though. I was able to try a bite of Stephanie's Shrimp and Grits and really love the taste of that dish.

Atmosphere was certainly lacking on the inside. Everything was in neutral colors...beige and brown with black and white photos. It would be nice to add some color to the decor to dress the place up just a touch. Our server did a good job with our table. She kept a good eye on us and made sure to follow up. Overall I would be willing to give this place another try to taste a couple more items on the menu.

Trent Allen
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Dish: Stuffed King Salmon
Food: B-
Atmosphere: C
Service: B+
Review:

Harry Bissetts, West Side - Athens, GA - June 26, 2007

Dining from 5:30p - 6:45p
Health Rating: 100/85
Average Cost per person: $36.43 (including appetizers and alcoholic drinks)

Overall EATS Tour Rating

Food: A
Atmosphere: A
Service: A

Meals ordered

Taylor Little
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Dish: Gulf Shrimp
Food: A
Atmosphere: A
Service: A
Review:I've always enjoyed Harry Bissett's, both the downtown location and the new one of the Westside. The two couldn't be more different in terms of the feel and architecture but the food is equally good at both.

I had the Gulf Shrimp for my entreé and it was delicious. They were above average size, just the right amount of juiciness with a light batter. The side dishes included my standard Bissett's choice of creamed spinach (not a big fan of spinach theirs is very tasty) and a squash dish. The squash was undercooked and had a strange flavor so I'll pass on that in the future.I also enjoy their Crawfish salad and the Crawfish appetizer. Overall a great meal as I've come to expect from Bissett's.

Some people don't like the look of the new place but I think it's cool and adds to the atmosphere - it's open and airy, very modern, clean and with a great deck area which is directly opposite of the somewhat dark and intimate feel of the downtown location.

Service was excellent. The young woman was attentive, fast with drink orders and had a good attitude.

Stephanie Sharp
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Dish: Uptown Stuffed Filet
Food: A-
Atmosphere: A
Service: A
Review:

Virna Mendoza
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Dish: Fresh Catch Thibodaux Mahi Mahi
Food: A
Atmosphere: A
Service: A
Review: Harry Bissett's has been one of my favorites in town for quite some time. And I am more excited about the 2nd location on the west side of Athens, which can be easier to get to at times.

Our meal and dining experience was just as good as always. I started with a cup of the soup of the day, Thai Beef. Unfortunately I was not impressed. I wanted to give something new a try and I found no substance to this soup. There was a lot of heat but no true flavor or spice, taking the heat from the pepper away it was rather bland. I guess I shouldn't have expected an authentic Thai seasoned soup from a Cajun style restaurant. For my entree I ordered the Fresh Catch Thibodaux with my Mahi Mahi bronzed and had the creamed spinach and salad vinaigrette as my sides. This was excellent as usual. The fish was cooked perfectly making it very flaky and moist. The creamed spinach is some of the best I've ever had.

The decor and atmosphere at this newer location is quite different from the original. It is much more colorful and lively...more modern. There is plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, as well as a large bar if you are just wanting to come in for a cocktail. It is worth the venture out to this brightly colored blue and purple building on Mitchell Bridge Road.

Town 220 Bistro - Madison, GA - June 19, 2007

Dining from 6:00p - 8:00p
Health Rating: 80/95
Average Cost per person: $35.66 (including appetizers and alcoholic drinks)

Overall EATS Tour Rating

Food: B+
Atmosphere: B-
Service: C+

Meals ordered

Taylor Little
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Dish: Costa Rican Tilapia
Food: A-
Atmosphere: B-
Service: C
Review: I enjoyed our trip to Madison, a nice change of pace from Athens. We originally planned to eat at the Icehouse but it is only open Wednesday through Sunday so we ventured across the street to Town 220 Bistro in the antiques market building. I spent many a summer in Madison so I always have a good feeling when I go there although things have changed considerably.

For an appetizer I had the calamari, not the best I've ever had but it was greatly helped by the two sauces with which it was served. I tried a little of Stephanie's crab cake appetizer and did not like it - it had a strange foretaste (sort of like aftertaste but this is an instant first bite reaction). I chose the roasted eggplant soup over the salad and I was not disappointed. I've never cared for eggplant but I went out on a limb and found an eggplant there and they made soup from it and it was good.

For my entree I had the Costa Rican Tilapia. Nice piece of fish. It was delicious, cooked just right and seasoned to perfection. Tilapia is my favorite fish and this one did not disappoint. I sampled Natalie's Ahi tuna steak and it was also very good.

The atmosphere was a mixed bag. The bar was populated by a good number of older (my age actually) women who have sampled the latest procedures the cosmetic surgery business has to offer, not that there's anything wrong with that. There was also a guy with his shirt more unbuttoned than David Hasselhoff and he sported two hoop earrings - not something you see everyday. The restaurant is in a huge open space with very high ceilings and big windows looking out on a garden area. The choice of music was a little strange, jazz one minute and a Sade CD the next. My fellow diner Matt likened the space to a hotel's restaurant, similar to what you might find near the airport during a layover in Cincinnati, Ohio. I can't really disagree with that.

Service was lacking. The server was nice enough but seemed slow to check on us, bring us drinks or refills and take our orders. This would have been more understandable had it not been so early and there were few patrons there.

All in all I enjoyed the experience and would dine there again.


Matt Keedy
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Dish: Steak Pommes Frites
Food: B-
Atmosphere: C+
Service: C+
Review:Having not spent any time at all in Madison, it was nice to leave Athens for one night and sample a restaurant that I had never been to, nor heard of. Our intended eatery was Icehouse, but they are not open on Tuesdays, so we ventured across the street. My first impression of Town 220 was that I had stepped into the hotel bar and restaurant at the Hilton or Marriot. A very interesting use of space, but no character. The restaurant bar is not separated from the dining area in any way, so I took notice that this must be one of the Madison socialite hangouts due to the large number of older women and men in the bar and their familiarity with the bartender and waitstaff.

I did not order an appetizer, but both Stephanie and Taylor were kind enough to let me sample theirs. I found nothing special in the crab cake and the calamari was breaded well, but chewier than I have had it elsewhere. Along with my entree I chose a salad which was labeled mixed greens with a basil vinaigrette. They delivered on the mix greens, but I could taste no basil vinaigrette on the salad. For an entree I chose the Steak Pomes Fritas which I ordered 'medium'. The steak was served to me 'well', but remained fairly juicy, so I was not completely disappointed. Looking around the table at the presentation of the rest of the meals, I found mine to be lacking any panache. Renaming this dish and serving it with a garlic mashed side would bring my rating up considerably. It just seemed like a better choice of side for this dish than fries.

The service was par at best. The restaurant was not very busy at the time of our meal, yet I consistently went without a beverage throughout. When I was able to order another drink, it would take 5 minutes to get it to me from the bar which was 15 feet away. If I recall correctly, our meals were served by someone else on staff and our waiter failed to ask if everything came out to our liking. It is a small thing, but if I were able to voice any concerns over my meal, it may have resulted in a better rating.

Stephanie Sharp
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Dish: Porcupine Shrimp
Food: B+
Atmosphere: A
Service: B-
Review: The name should have been a clue about what this dish was all about. The description of the entree was something like..."prawns wrapped in phyllo dough..." I was expecting some sort of dumpling type presentation of the shrimp. Instead I was presented with what looked like shrimp wrapped in a sort of hay - and the texture definitely felt like hay. It made the shrimp taste dry because of the hardened hay like material it was covered with. The rice pilaf it was served atop was very bland as well. This is not a dish I would ever order again. Looking back on it - i'm convinced past diners named this dish because their mouth was stabbed with dozens of tiny needles!

Having said this, I was very impressed with the overall feel of the restaurant. The interior was very roomy and large in scale, yet cozy and comfortable. Great light. I managed to sneak a couple of bites of the tilapia one of my dining guests ordered and it was excellent. There are definitely items on the menu I would order, when I return to Town 220 Bistro - i'll just stear clear of the Porcupine Shrimp.

Virna Mendoza
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Dish: Ceasar Salad and Calamari
Food: B-
Atmosphere: A-
Service: C
Review: Overall my dining experience tonight was average. More than anything the service was not very good. Our server was just not that attentive and was very slow at taking our orders, checking in on us and refilling my water (my glass was completely empty 3 times).

The food on the other hand was alright. I ordered the calamari and a ceasar salad as my entree, as I like to put the two items together to make a "calamari salad." When I ordered I had requested that both items come out at the same time but unfortunately I was served my salad first. It, of course, sat for awhile as I waited on the calamari so the salad ended up being too wet by the time I was able to put it all together. The squid itself was delicious and I really enjoyed the red pepper aioli that came with it. Calamari salad is one of my favorite combinations and have ordered this at many establishments.

I did try a bite from Natalie's and Stephanie's plate and thought both dishes were excellent. I would definitely be willing to go back and give them another try as there were several other items on the menu that I found interesting. I also really like the atmosphere. It was a large open, loft-like space with modern finishings but at the same time very casual and not over done. Another feature I like were the windows into the kitchen so that you could see the cooking and prep process.

Natalie Rittle
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Dish: Nori Fumi Seared Ahi
Food: A
Atmosphere: A-
Service: C
Review:The tour stopped in Madison, Georgia this week whose claim to fame is it's the city so beautiful General Sherman refused to burn it.
Not having been there in probably two years, I was pleasantly surprised to see the square has grown and changed and now includes some really neat spots, one of which we tried, Town 220. The open three-story restaurant featured modern decor, most notably the light fixtures, yet situated among exposed brick and an open fireplace - cozy and trendy at the same time.

I started with one of my favorites, a glassy of Poppy Pinot Noir, and as usual, it didn't disappoint. The wine list was eclectic and offered a variety of choices both by the glass and the bottle.

For the food, I chose a salad with my entree, a simple mix of field greens with a tangy basil vinaigrette dressing. It didn't wow me but was fresh and good nonetheless. The bread and butter that was served was rather tasteless.

For my entree, I chose tuna - seared rare. It was wonderful! The portion was huge and the tuna steak itself seemed to be rubbed in a succulent mix of spices that gave the fresh fish a rich flavor that was accented perfectly by a mix of fresh ginger and nori atop the steak. The tuna rested on a pool of wasabi ginger buerre blanc sauce and was accompanied by mashed yucon potatoes and sauteed veggies that consisted of sugar snap peas and carrot rounds.

The service was slow, made worse by the fact that the restaurant was very crowded. It seemed as if the waiter intentionally tried to slow the meal by not taking our actual orders until every bit of the hors devours and then didn't place our entrees until all of the salads and soups were finished.

All in all, I thought it was a good experience and I will be back....if for nothing else than to re-experience the tuna!

Copper Creek Brewery - Athens, GA - June 12, 2007

Dining from 5:30p - 6:45p
Health Rating: 100/89
Average Cost per person: $24.00 (including appetizers and alcoholic drinks)

Overall EATS Tour Rating

Food: B+
Atmosphere: A-
Service: A-

Meals ordered

Taylor Little
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Dish: Filet Mignon Wrap
Food: B+
Atmosphere: A-
Service: A-
Review:I've only eaten at Copper Creek a couple of times and although it's
certainly not bad it's wasn't good enough to keep me coming back for
more. To start I had one of their home-brewed American Pale Beers. It
was good - hoppy and crisp. For an appetizer I had the cheddar ale soup
which was served with small pieces of garlic bread. The soup tasted
good, nice balance of cheese and ale. For my main course I had the
Filet Mignon wrap. The size of the wrap was a plus as it was a lot of
food for the money but the quality of the meat left something to be
desired. The wrap consisted of peppers, onions, sour cream and sliced
filet mignon but the meat was tough, not enough to be inedible but
enough to keep me from ordering it again. The side of chips and salsa
was good.

I like the atmosphere of Copper Creek, it definitely has the feel of an
English pub - lots of reproduction period posters and art, copper pots
and pans hanging from the ceiling. All in all a nice feel and a good
place to hang out and drink beer.

The service was good, our server was very attentive and was always
there when I needed another beer, which is often.


Matt Keedy
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Dish: Chicken Wrap
Food: B
Atmosphere: A-
Service: A
Review:In all honestly, I seldom go to Copper Creek to have dinner. Overall, this was perhaps the 4th time that I have had a meal at Copper Creek and overall, I was pleased, but not WOW'ed!. I started my evening with a terrific beer from their brew list called Dunkel Weizen. It was so good, in fact, that I later had one more. For an appetizer, I went with the Black Bean and Grilled Chicken Chili. I am a traditional Texas Chili consumer, so I am always very hesitant about ordering Chili. This, however, was a fantastic appetizer rich in flavor with being to spicy for your average consumer. For an entree, I chose the Buffalo Chicken Wrap. Our very attentive waitress gave me a choice of ranch or blue cheese dressing in the wrap, but honestly, I can't recall tasting any of the blue cheese that I selected. Most of the meat was not marinated in any wing sauce either. Overall it was bland with only occasional spots of any buffalo taste. After the chili, this was a definite disappointment.

This is not a place I think of when taking anyone out to dinner in Athens. The beers are good, the atmosphere is also good, especially later at night. The food is average, but on par with what I expect from pub food. They will see my smiling face once again in the future, but not with a Buffalo Chicken Wrap in my hand!

Stephanie Sharp
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Dish: Crab Cakes
Food: B+
Atmosphere: A-
Service: A-
Review: Copper Creek is located where Burnstone Brewhouse used to operate. I remember eating at the Brewhouse many times and I always loved their Cheddar Ale soup. I was thrilled to find the same dish on the Creek's menu. I was not disappointed. It was very cheesy with a hint of corn and I think what might have been carrots. It doesn't sound like a great combination but it was very hearty, and honestly I was almost too full to enjoy my next course - the crab cakes. The crab cakes were extremely moist and tasty. The size of the chunks of crab were the perfect proportion to the breading. The flavor was right on. Not too salty and not too bland. They were served with very creamy but firm souther grits. The presentation was fabulous.

Overall I was pleased with my meal, but there was something forgettable about the place. The service was fine, the atmosphere was warm and lively, and the food was good, but I can't say Copper Creek would ever come to mind if I were trying to decide on a place to eat downtown.

Five and Ten - Athens, GA - June 5, 2007

Dining from 5:30p - 7:30p
Health Rating: 100/94
Average Cost per person: $48.30 (including appetizers, alcoholic drinks and dessert)

Overall EATS Tour Rating

Food: A-
Atmosphere: B+
Service: B+

Meals ordered

Taylor Little
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Dish: Berkshire Pork Porterhouse
Food: A
Atmosphere: B
Service: B
Review:I had eaten at Five and Ten twice before and enjoyed it although I questioned whether or not the quality of the experience was worth the cost. Since we got there early I ordered from the Prix Fixe menu and I think the $24 price made a difference in my impression as that was reasonable for the amount and quality of the food. Stephanie and I shared the tiny Gulf shrimp appetizer. I love shrimp and the texture was excellent and they were of a good size considering they were "tiny". The shrimp were good but I thought they could've had a more distinct taste–more butter less oil and a little more spice.

My Prix Fixe choice consisted of an arugula salad, a Berkshire Pork Porterhouse (fancy name for a big pork chop) and a dessert that was essentially fig preserves. I traded my arugula salad for Virna's sweet corn soup. The soup was good but also a little bland. On to the pork.
The Berkshire hog is from fine stock indeed–the breed's roots go back 300 years and are a favorite of the Royal Family. I understand why.
This was the single best piece of pork I have ever had in any restaurant anywhere. It was cooked to perfection and the taste was unrivaled by any pig I've ever had the pleasure to eat. The pork alone accounts for my high marks on the food, were it not for that I would have rated it B- instead of A. The dessert portion was a small helping of fig preserves and was pretty tasty.

As Virna mentioned, the acoustics are not good and it is hard to carry on a conversation. There is quiet a bit of noise coming from the kitchen so this accounts for a lower mark for atmosphere.

Service was a little off. In our server's defense we did have one person in our party come in 15 minutes then another come after that so he was trying to keep everything straight. He made a mistake on my drink order but I attribute that to the inability to hear much amongst the din of other diners and clanging pots. We did present him with a challenging task concerning our bill splitting request (which he managed to pull off even when he thought he couldn't) and for that I give him credit.

Overall a nice meal but that is based almost solely on the little piggy that went to market and ended up on my plate.


Virna Mendoza
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Dish: Roasted Irish Salmon
Food: A-
Atmosphere: B+
Service: B+
Review:
Overall the evening was good. Nothing spectacular but still considered the meal very good. If you are there before 6pm, they do offer a Prix Fixe menu with 2 options of an appetizer, entree and dessert for $24. The 2 choices change weekly. This week I ordered the corn chowder soup, grilled salmon and vanilla bean ice cream.

Taylor selected the other prix fixe option with came with an arugula salad, and we switched between ourselves the appetizers as they do not allow substitutions. The arugula salad came with red and yellow grape tomatoes, cucumbers and green goddess dressing with a lemony zing to it. I enjoyed the salad with everything tasting very fresh and crisp.

For the the salmon entree, it was grilled with the skin left on one side and served with some roasted potatoes. The portion for me was just right especially since dessert was included. The salmon was very moist and cooked perfectly.

My dessert consisted of vanilla bean ice cream served over a polenta cake drizzled with honey. The ice cream was wonderful but I was not a fan of the polenta cake. It was a bit dry to eat with ice cream and even when the ice cream had melted over the cake, it still did not help the consistency of the cake itself.< style="font-weight: bold;">

Stephanie Sharp
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Dish: Roasted Atlantic Hake
Food: A-
Atmosphere: B+
Service: B+
Review: This visit being only my second visit to Five & Ten, I will definitely remember it more fondly than my first visit over 4 years ago. You have to understand I was 8 months pregnant on my first visit and the small wooden chairs aren't made for the overly impregnated, and to top it off, indulging heavily in the Frogmore stew isn't recommended with so little room left with an almost 8lb baby inside! Nonetheless, that affliction is no longer a problem for me so my second experience was an splendid change!

I started off my meal with the Tiny Gulf Shrimp appetizer. I tasted a hint of what I thought was Sesame Oil, a favorite addition to many of the sauces I prepare at home. The shrimp were a perfect texture, and the sauce they were sauteed in was very tasty. The actual shrimp were a little bland when taken without much sauce but I lathered mine in the sauce.

For my entree I tried the Roasted Atlantic Hake. I love all kinds of fish, and this meal did not disappoint. It was extremely moist and was served with leek mashed potatoes and okra. I do not particulary like okra, more because of the texture than the taste, so I passed them on to one of my companions, who commented I wasn't a good southerner because I don't like okra. He loved the preparation and flavor of the okra.

The high point of any meal for me, and anyone that knows me will confirm this, is the dessert. I chose the creme brulee. I order the creme brulee at any restaurant that serves it. It has surpassed Key Lime pie as my favorite dessert. Five & Ten prepared it with perfect texture, perfect temperature, perfect taste. A++.

I'll definitely visit Five & Ten again, and hopefully it won't be another 4 years!

Trent Allen
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Dish: Anchovies and Grapefruit
Food: A-
Atmosphere: B+
Service: B
Review:

Natalie Rittle
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Dish: Handcut Pasta Ribbons
Food: A
Atmosphere: B
Service: B+
Review:How perfect that the first "appearance" I am able to make on the restaurant tour is Five & Ten...one of Athens' best! Each time I've patroned in the past has proved to be a great experience and it's always top of the list when friends and family are in town. This visit proved to be no exception.

I started with a glass of a Slovenian Pinot Grigio and it was wonderful. We had razor clams in a citrus glaze for an appetizer. It was different and interesting and the fresh parsley and basil made it very tasty.,For my entree, I ordered the ribbon pasta, a dish I've had before and will get again. Admittedly, I'm a pasta addict, especially when there are tomatoes involved so it was hard to resist. I love that this dish offers an unusual pasta - almost lasagna noodles but thinner, it makes it a little difficult to eat but still delicious. The fresh mozzarella found throughout is a nice touch and the sauce is just tomato-y enough with fresh tomatoes as well as a thick broth-type sauce. Now, for the jewel of the evening....I ordered the sorbet and it didn't disappoint. One scoop each of spicy watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew sorbet came expertly presented in a frozen martini glass sprinkled with fresh and delicious blueberries, blackberries, strawberries and raspberries. I will be back for that treat for sure.

The atmosphere was nice and the service was good. An eclectic mix of music lingered in the background and our server did a nice job especially considering both Allen boys came in late at different times. I will continue to recommend Five & Ten and hope to be back very soon.